|
The Family Connections Center At The Lakes Region Facility
|
||||
|
The Family Connections Center The Lakes Region Facility 1 Right Way Path Laconia, New Hampshire 03246 Program Administrator – Kristina Toth Phone: 1-800-550-0950 (N.H.) 1-603-528-9265 1-603-528-9266 FAX: 1-603-528-9273 |
WHY HAVE A FAMILY PROGRAM IN PRISON?“Children of incarcerated parents suffer from both emotional and behavioral difficulties, which put them at risk for future problems, such as academic failure, delinquency, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression” – Bloom & Steinhart, 1993 National Council on Crime & Delinquency The Family Connections Center is located at the Lakes Region Facility, a co-ed prison. The Family Connections Center is designed to be a child-friendly; safe and nurturing environment where incarcerated parents and their children can maintain and further develop family bonds. The Family Connections Center was created in November 1998, as part of the Family Connections Project. The Project is a unique partnership between New Hampshire Department of Corrections, University of New Hampshire (UNH) Family Studies Department and UNH Cooperative Extension. The Family Connections Project seeks to sustain ties between incarcerated parents and their children, while making strong connections to the community in hopes of supporting their families through their emotional and financial struggles. |
|||
|
What is Offered at The Family Connections Center? |
|
|||
|
These classes address child development, general parenting skills and how to parent from prison. The unique struggles of families with an incarcerated parent also are addressed.
This library contains books for children of all ages, parenting books for fathers and mothers and self-help books. A video library on parenting and incarceration also is available.
Visits are monitored by family professionals who provide feedback to parents on their use of positive parenting techniques. These visits are held in child-friendly rooms containing toys and learning materials for children of all ages. In addition, children complete UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H projects with guidance from their parents. During the visits, parents are encouraged to use the skills they have learned in their parenting education class. These skills include engaging in developmentally appropriate activities with their children, building their children’s self-esteem and using positive discipline. Parents and children have the opportunity to build or renew family bonds. This experience also helps prepare a parent for the transition back into the role of an active parent after incarceration.
Seminars and presentations by outside agencies are offered regularly to Family Connections Center participants. “When Your Income Drops”, “When Parenting Styles Differ” and a child support seminar are offered quarterly. Infant and Child CPR are also offered. We are always looking for new speakers. |
These groups offer incarcerated parents an opportunity to share and learn from one another. Topics range from how to get reconnected with your child to age appropriate discipline. Discussion material is decided upon by the participants,
Incarcerated parents record books on tapes to send to their children. They can record up to three tapes per year, per child. One new book is sent home with each tape. This activity allows children to remain connected to their incarcerated parents, and promotes literacy as a child listens to his or her parent read and follows along with their book.
The newsletter lists upcoming events, new information regarding families and available community resources. It is available for both incarcerated parents and their children’s caregivers.
The Family Connections Center links families to services and resources in their communities, including the UNH Cooperative Extension located in every county in New Hampshire. The children who complete a 4-H project are encouraged to join their local 4-H club and enter their project in their county fair. The Center helped to create and continues to maintain a local test father support group called Dads Are Parents 2. The goal is to expand this support group to all ten New Hampshire counties
The Family Connections Center sponsors a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day celebration for all participants, their children, and their child’s caregiver. They also help sponsor a similar Holiday Party in December. |
|||
Parenting education Classes 
Visits between incarcerated parents and their children
Seminars
Weekly Incarcerated Parenting Support Groups
Books on tape reading program
Monthly Newsletter
Family Celebrations